Yucaipa man in good Samaritan’s death sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole

Vincent DeLeon (Booking Photo)

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.– A Yucaipa man who robbed a Cherry Valley woman and then stabbed her rescuer to death was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole Friday.

Vincent Alex DeLeon, 28, was found guilty in April of one count of Attempted Murder and one count of Murder. Jurors also found true two special allegations that a deadly and dangerous weapon was used in the commission of the attempted murder and the murder.

According to Lead Deputy District Attorney Cary Epstein, who prosecuted the case, on April 27, 2014, DeLeon left a local drinking establishment, targeted a woman leaving a nearby grocery store and attempted to rob her of her purse.

During the struggle for her purse, DeLeon stabbed the 26-year-old female victim in her chest. A nearby 47-year-old good Samaritan, Troy Cansler of Yucaipa, came to her aid and chased after DeLeon.

“In attempting to thwart the robbery, DeLeon stabbed the good Samaritan in the chest as well,” said Epstein. “The defendant then fled back to the local drinking establishment and discarded the purse, knife and hoodie he was wearing.”

Both victims were transported to the hospital where Mr. Cansler was later pronounced dead.

The investigating agency was the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Division.

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It is the mission of the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office to represent the interests of the people in the criminal justice system, as mandated by California State law. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office serves the residents of San Bernardino County by: seeking the truth, protecting the innocent; holding the guilty accountable; preserving the dignity of victims and their families; and, ensuring that justice is done while always maintaining the highest ethical standards.